Japanese pottery and porcelain

Akashi pottery 明石焼

Akashi ware is pottery and porcelain mainly made in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture. Somewhere between 1615–24, the official kiln of Ogasawara Tadamasa, the lord of the Akashi Castle, was established. Toda Oribenosuke made pottery in this kiln. After that, the kiln was moved to Nakataniyama, Akashi. This is said to be the origin of Akashi ware.As the official kiln of the Akashi Domain, they have been making a lot of colored plates and bowls, which were greatly inspired by Mishima ware and colored pottery styles, such as old Kiyomizu and Kyo ware styles, since the mid-Edo period. They were at (more…)

Zeze pottery 膳所焼

Zeze ware is the term for the pottery of Zeze in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Famous for its tea bowls, it was selected one of the Enshu Nanagama. Praised by Enshuu as an example of “Kirei-sabi” for its characteristic iron glaze with tinges of black, as well as its simplicity and delicate design. (more…)

Tsuboya pottery 壺屋焼

Okinawan pottery is the foundation for Tsuboya ware, a fusion of pottery techniques obtained through commerce with the south and Korean potters’ methods directly transmitted from Satsuma. In 1682, the Ryukyu royal government integrated the Chibana Kiln of Misato Village (now Okinawa City), the Takaraguchi Kiln of Shuri, the Wakuta Kiln of Naha, and other regional kilns into the south of Makishi Village (now Tsuboya-cho in Naha City) in order to make utensils for the local islanders. This was the start of Tsuboya ware and it continues to the present day.Tsuboya ware is divided into two basic subtypes, ara ware (more…)

Tokoname pottery 常滑焼

The Tokoname kiln has the longest history and had the largest production area among Japan’s six old kilns (Tokoname, Shigaraki, Bizen, Tamba, Echizen, Seto). Its beginning dates back to the late Heian period (approx. 1100 AD), and an estimated 3000 Anagama kilns (tunnel kilns) were built in the hilly areas of the the Chita Peninsula in the Aichi Prefecture, centered at Tokoname City. Tsubo (jars), Kame (wide-mouthed bowls), and Yamajawan (mountain tea bowls) were made using these kilns. Tokoname wares made during the Heian period up to the early Edo period are referred to as “Old Tokoname.”During the latter part (more…)

Tamba pottery 丹波焼

The Tamba style of pottery, a specialty of Hyogo prefecture, is a traditional industry of the town of Konda (now the city of Sasayama). It stands alongside the Seto, Tokoname (Aichi prefecture), Shigaraki (Shiga prefecture), Bizen (Okayama prefecture), and Echizen (Fukui prefecture) styles as one of the “Rokkoyo”, or six old pottery styles of Japan, with a long and storied history that has continued to the present day.Until recently, owing to a lack of records from the middle Kamakura period, it was thought that the style originated during the Kamakura period. However, in 1977 (Showa 52), the Hyogo Board of (more…)

Takatori pottery 高取焼

A historic prefectural workshop with a 400 year history of continued production in Fukuoka City’s Sawara District, as well as Nogata City in Fukuoka Prefecture.Takatori ware was originally fired at the base of Mount Takatori in Fukuoka Prefecture’s Nogata City, and because of the Imjin War, Kuroda Nagamasa brought back a Korean potter named Hassan (Japanese name Hachizou Shigesada) who began baking Takatori ware. The workshop is said to have opened in 1600. The kilns at the workshop – Eimanji, Takuma, Uchigaso, and Yamada – are known as “Old Takatori”. It prospered as the official kiln for the Kuroda province (more…)

Shitoro pottery 志戸呂焼

Shitoro ware refers to pottery produced in Kanaya, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It can be traced back to the Muromachi period, beginning with the pottery baked in Mino, and has been long-known as a region ripe with high quality potter’s clay. In year 16 of the Tenshou era, a license granted by Tokugawa Ieyasu promoted the region’s pottery as a specialty good, and production flourished. Above all else, the reason for Shitoro ware rising to acclaim was due to the attention received from Kobori Enshu and other practitioners of tea ceremony, as well as its selection as one of the (more…)

Shigaraki pottery 信楽焼

Shigaraki ware is one of ‘The Six Old Kilns’ in Japan made in Shigaraki, Koga shi, Shiga Prefecture. Shigaraki is the area once flourished as a center of Japanese culture in the middle of Kamakura period, with a strong influence of Korean culture. Later in Muromachi period when the tea ceremony was established, the Japanese sense of beauty “Wabi-sabi” and the simplicity of yakishime (unglazed pottery) became integrated and Juko Murata (1423-1502), the founder of tea ceremony, introduced Shigaraki ware into tea utensils. The charm of Shigaraki ware lies in its unique glazing caused by yohen (color variation during firing). (more…)

Seto pottery 瀬戸焼

Although legend has it that ceramics in the Seto ware began when its forefather, Kato Shiroemon Kagemasa, built a kiln there in 1242 after having studied the methods from the Song dynasty in China, the origins of pottery-making in the area are much more ancient, dating back to the Tumulus period.During the Kamakura period the Seto ware was the only one in Japan which produced glazed pottery. The flourishing of trade between Japan and the Song from the Heian to the Kamakura period led to a large volume of ceramics being brought in from the continent; the extant domestic ash (more…)

Satsuma pottery 薩摩焼

The history of Satsuma Ware during the Bunroku and Keichou Eras (1529-1598) began during the famous “Imjin War (1592-1597)” called as Ceramic War, when Simazu Yoshihiro, the seventeenth head of the Satsuma Han, kidnapped more than 80 Korean potters and brought them back to Japan. Potters, including Boku Heii and Kin Kai, who arrived in the towns, Kushikino and Ichiki, started kilns within the Han domain. Each kiln produced a different style of pottery dictated by the environmental conditions of the location and the style of the potters, making a large variety available. Later, there were 5 varieties of kilns: (more…)

Ohi pottery 大樋焼

In Genbun 6 (1666) Tsunanori, fifth of the Maeda line and daimyo of the Kaga Domain, wanted to cultivated tea culture and invited the 4th head of the Uransenke school of tea ceremony, Senso (Soshitsu Sen), to be the tea ceremony magistrate. At that time Senso was accompanied by a potter and tea bowl master, Chozaemon, who was the best student of the 4th head of the Raku line, Ichinyu.Chozaemon was searching for the best potter’s clay and upon discovering it in Ohi village in Ishikawa prefecture, he continued living and making pottery there in Kaga. He then took the (more…)

Ofuke pottery 御深井焼

The beginning of Ofuke pottery Ofuke-ware is a type of pottery that was made in the Shimo-Ofuke Garden on the north side of Nagoya Castle from the late 17th century to the 18th century. Also, pottery with an ash glaze containing iron called “Ofuke-glaze” is generally called Ofuke-ware. Nagoya Castle was built at the northwest end of a plateau in the center of the city of Nagoya. The stone walls and moat of Nagoya Castle are made out of the edge of the plateau. This is a swampy area where rainwater seeps into the plateau and flows out. In ancient (more…)

Shino pottery 志野焼

It is a type of Mino ware. Shino ware is one technique of ceramic art that flourished during the tea ceremony craze of the Momoyama period; it was the first white pottery to be created in Japan. Due to its white color, images can be drawn on the sides, also making it the first pottery in Japan to feature brushed-on paintings. Although it declined in popularity after the Edo period, at 1930 the early of the Showa era the discovery of old Shino kilns by Arakawa Toyozo ( 1894 – 1985 ) along with subsequent research led to a second (more…)

Oribe pottery 織部焼

It is a type of Mino ware. Oribe ware is a type of Japanese pottery most identifiable for its use of green copper glaze, mat black and bold painted designs. It was the first use of colored stoneware glaze by Japanese potters. It takes its name from tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615).Oribe ware has quite strange shapes. It was an innovative style at the time. It is said that the strange styles were made under Oribe’s direction. He was pupil of Sen no Rikyu, Japans’s most famous Tea Ceremony artist. In the Momoyama period, Rikyu was serving under ruler Toyotomi (more…)

Mino pottery 美濃焼

Mino ware was very artistically influenced by Raku ware, however the potters aspired to depart from its influence: they made pottery freely while Raku ware was made by requests from Sen no Rikyu. Mino ware elevated artistic level of Japanese pottery. Mino ware includes Ki-seto, Seto-kuro, Shino and Oribe ware which are famous for their use in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Shino ware is known for its almost pure white glaze, while Oribe ware is known for its green copper glaze, matte black glaze and bold painted designs. Ki-Seto ware is known for its green glaze, named Tanpan, and its (more…)

Mashiko pottery 益子焼

It is generally agreed upon that Mashiko ware originated towards the end of the Edo period, in the year 1853 (Kaei 6). It was then that Keisaburo Otsuka, having learned the art of pottery in the city of Kasama, Ibaraki, traveled from what is now the town of Motegi, Tochigi to the town of Mashiko, where he discovered potter’s clay and first lit his kiln.The pottery industry continued to develop through the Meiji period, taking advantage of the bounties of the land to achieve Kanto-wide distribution of its wares. Around the same time, teapots decorated with simple landscape paintings were (more…)

Raku pottery 楽焼

Raku ware is a type of pottery that is traditionally and primarily used in the Japanese tea ceremony, most often in the form of tea bowls called Raku chawan. In the Momoyama era (1568-1603), the first raku chawan was made by famous artist Raku Chojiro, the founder of Raku ware, after receiving orders from Sen no Rikyu, Japan’s most famous Tea Ceremony artist. Rikyu also served ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the late Momoyama era, Rikyu ordered Raku Chojiro to make kuro raku chawan. Kuro means black in Japanese. Hideyoshi disliked black, and Rikyu ordered the black bowls knowing this. It (more…)

Kiyomizu pottery 清水焼

Kiyomizu pottery is one of Kyoto’s representative traditional crafts, and was originally used to refer to the pottery produced in the Kiyomizu-zaka area leading to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.Today, the term “Kiyomizu pottery” is used to refer to the pottery produced in the Kiyomizu pottery complex in Higashiyama and Yamashina wards of Kyoto City, and Sumiyama in Uji City.There are other types of pottery in Kyoto such as Raku pottery, Awataguchi pottery, Yasaka pottery, Otowa pottery, and Mizoro pottery, and the term “Kyo ware” was used to refer to all of them.In the eary Edo priod, famous potter Nonomura Ninse appeared. His (more…)

Kutani porcelain 九谷焼

The history of Kutan ware goes back to around 1655 (first year of Meireki Era), early years of Edo Period.Maeda Toshiharu, the first feudal lord of Daishoji domain which was a branch domain of Kaga, focused on the fact that pottery stones were found at a gold mine in his territory of Kutani (present-day Kutani, Yamanaka-machi, Ishikawa-prefecture), and he ordered Goto Saijiro, who officiated as a person in charge of gold refining at the mine, to learn about porcelain manufacturing at Arita in Hizen.The Kutani ware is said to have begun at the time of building a kiln in Kutani (more…)

Karatsu pottery 唐津焼

Karatsu chawan (tea bowl) is very popular, as person of refined taste said: “First Ido, Second Raku, and Third Karatsu”. (A slightly later term, “First Raku, Second Hagi, and Third Karatsu,” is said to have been coined to describe only domestic products) Among other things, Karatsu tea bowls have unique features and atmosphere. The origin of Karatsu ware was Korean pottery actually. The potters were brought from Korea opened kilns and made Korean style pottery after Imjin War (1592-1597), Japanese Toyotomi Hideyoshi troops invaded Korea. While the story of its origin is a shameful episode in Japanese history, excellent Korean (more…)

Iga pottery 伊賀焼

Iga pottery has a long history, and its roots can be traced back roughly 1200 years to the Tenpyo era (729–749), when farmers began to fire the vessels they used while farming.Owing to its origins near the historical Yamato region, Iga ware has long been at the core of Japanese culture. Historical influence from the Nara court was key to the style’s development. Over time, artisans began specializing in pottery, culminating in the late Muromachi period, when Taro Dayu and Jiro Dayu founded the Iga ware style. Later, in 1584 (Tensho 12), Tsutsui Sadatsugu, under instructions from the lord of (more…)

Inuyama pottery 犬山焼

Inuyama ware was developed on the commission of the Inuyama clan in the 19th century. The Inuyama style, a Gosu red painting design of the Lord of Inuyama Castle, Naruse Masanaga, is patterned after Chinese Ming Dynasty Gosu red painting and many tea articles are made using the characteristic cloud brocade pattern, which includes Korin-style cherry blossoms and maple leaves.During the long history of Inuyama ware, the kiln has faced closure many times, but craftsmen ranked alongside Kyoto’s Okuda Eisen, such as Dohei and Ozeki Sakujuro Nobunari, have worked hard to revive it. During the Edo Genroku era (1688-1704), a (more…)

Hagi pottery 萩焼

Hagi ware emerged over 400 years ago. It is a type of Japanese pottery very identifiable for its mixed clay made with three type soils (Daido soil, Mitake soil and Mishima soil) and the use of a feldspar glaze. It originated after the Imjin War (1592-1597) with the ‘Lee Brothers’ potters from Korea. A feature of the clay is that it is comparatively soft and absorbent. Hagi tea bowls are perfect for green tea. The more often you use them, the greater their charm, as the surface develops a patina from properties in the tea penetrating the inside of the (more…)

Echizen pottery 越前焼

Echizen, home to one of the six old pottery styles of Japan, was originally a site where Sue wares were manufactured. However, in the late Heian period, following the adoption of technology from Tokoname, Echizen started to produce pottery. Though Echizen pottery at the time was unglazed, the highly-vitreous nature of Echizen’s soil ensured that the wares did not leak. In addition, ash from the wood fuel would fuse with the exterior surface of the wares, producing beautiful green patterns.By the late Muromachi period, an enormous kiln, over 25 meters across, had been built in the town of Echizen, allowing (more…)

Bizen pottery 備前焼

Bizen ware is Japan’s oldest pottery-making technique, introduced during the Heian period (794-1192). It is a type of pottery identifiable by its iron-like hardness, reddish brown color, absence of glaze, and markings resulting from its wood-burning kiln firing. The surface of Bizen ware is entirely dependent on yohen (discoloration of the ceramic by the kiln). Characteristic features include Hidasuki, a red and brown fire-cord decoration created by rice straw wrapped around pieces, and Enokihada, a hackberry glaze spotting produces by pine ash. Bizen Ware Clay I sometimes go to ceramics manufacturers to learn about ceramics. While most pottery you see (more…)

Banko pottery 萬古焼

About 260 years ago, in the middle of the Edo era, there lived a wealthy merchant by the name of Nunami Rozan. Rozan, having a deep knowledge of traditional tea ceremony, had an interest in the art of ceramics. With a desire to let his creations be handed down and used eternally, his ceramics were stamped with the words “Banko Fueki”, meaning “constant eternity,” and from that the name banko ware was born. The craft of such banko ware ceased with the passing away of Rozan. However, during the later stages of the Edo period, the fire crafting of banko (more…)

Izushi porcelain 出石焼

Izushi ware is white porcelain. The ware is synonymous with a porcelain surface which is said to be a “white that is too white,” and the porcelain engraving that takes advantage of this. Izushi ware has been designated a traditional craft of Japan. Izushi kiln had been a kiln for pottery wares, but in 1789, Chinzaemon Nihachiya struck on the idea of firing porcelain. He borrowed money from Izushi Domain and spent several weeks in Arita learning porcelain production before returning to Izushi with potters.from Arita. He then attempted to start porcelain production, but met with little success due to (more…)

Kankake pottery 神懸焼

A type of pottery with roots in Hiraga Gennai’s work, produced in Shodoshima. It was founded on 1875 (Meiji era, year 8). It specializes in tea pottery, which began to be made as a souvenir of the Kankakei Valley. It uses Shodoshima soil, which is less sticky, and is characterized by a technique called “string making”, which stretches it in a string shape and winds it. It shows a rich, expressive glaze because differently colored is applied twice. The baking method is the same as Raku-yaki’s. It is a traditional craft of Kagawa Prefecture. (more…)

Arita porcelain (Imari) 有田焼 (伊万里)

Old Imari is quite probably the most famous Japanese ceramic product in the world. China, the dominant exporter of porcelain, fell into internal disturbances in 1644 and it became hard to obtain Chinese products. The west requested Japan to step up production of porcelain instead of China because Europe did not have the techniques to make porcelain at that time. Thus substantial amounts of Japanese porcelain ware were made in the town of Arita and exported to Europe from the port of Imari by the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) from the late 17th to early 18th century in order to (more…)

Asahi pottery 朝日焼

Asahi ware is the pottery produced in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. As the cultivation of Uji-cha blossomed, so did the demand for making tea ceremony utensils. It was selected as one of the Enshu Nanagama during the Edo period. Remaining anecdotes claim that due to the rise in popularity of tea ceremony in the Momoyama period, founder Okamura Jiroueimon Fujisaku received high praise from The ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi and revised his technique and name – ever since, Asahi ware has been a source of great praise. With the second generation of potters, Kobori Enshu took patronage of Asahi ware, and (more…)

Akahada pottery 赤膚焼

Akahada ware is the pottery of Nara City and Yamatokoriyama City in Nara Prefecture, a region dotted with ceramic workshops. Although its origin is unclear, it is said that during the Momoyama period, the lord of Yamatokoriyama, Toyotomi Hidenaga, first built a workshop on Akahada Mountain in the village of Gojo.In the later Edo period, a potter Okuda Mokuhaku painted Nara-e on akahada ware and its became very popular among tea ceremony masters.The kiln was counted as one of the Enshu Nanagama.  Nara-ePicture book illustrations with colored brushstrokes, themed around old stories (mainly fairy tales), Noh songs and so on, (more…)

Agano pottery 上野焼

Agano ware refers to pottery fired in Tagawagun kawara-machi, Fukuchi-machi, and Oto-machi in Fukuoka Prefecture. At the beginning of the Edo period, when Hosokawa Tadaoki, himself a well-known practitioner of tea ceremony, was appointed lord of the Komura province, he summoned a Korean potter Sokai (Agano Kizou), traveled up to Agano in the Toyosaki province and constructed a workshop – thus began Agano ware. So well-loved by tea ceremony artisans that it was counted as one of the Enshu Nanagama during the Edo period. Agano ware specializes in its variety of enamels used, as well as the natural patterns produced (more…)